EP1490542A1

EP1490542A1 - Awning web

Info

Publication number: EP1490542A1
Application number: EP03717157A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Werner Lindfeld
Original assignee: MHZ Sonnenschutztechnik GmbH
Current assignee: MHZ Sonnenschutztechnik GmbH
Priority date: 2002-04-02
Filing date: 2003-03-19
Publication date: 2004-12-29
Also published as: DE10214628C1; WO2003083203A1; AU2003221607A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an awning web consisting of at least two partial webs (8, 9). The two partial webs abut one another at the abutting joint (11). To keep the abutting joint together, the web is provided with a connecting strip (14), which bridges said joint and forms a material connection with each of the two partial webs by means of a corresponding strip width. To prevent the transmission of light between the abutting joint (12, 13), where the abutting edges form a gap, the web is provided with a strip (18), which is less transparent than the rest of the connecting strip.

Description

awning web

There are technical limits to the width of woven webs. Shading devices in the form of external awnings or internal shading sometimes require widths that exceed the dimensions that can reasonably be produced with weaving machines. A wide awning sheet must be composed of several partial sheets. Different techniques are known for assembling the awnings.

One technique is to allow the awning sheets to overlap to a certain extent, the overlap point being connected positively by sewing or integrally by welding or gluing. A material thickening occurs in the area of the overlap, which is disruptive when the awning web is wound onto the winding shaft. The thickening point leads to a fold in the bale the area of the web overlap. The wrapping diameter grows faster there than next to it, so that tensile stresses occur in the bale that cause the folds. If the awning remains rolled up for a long time, the folds stabilize and will remain visible even when the awning is extended.

Another possibility of connecting the individual partial webs to one another is described, for example, in DE 196 02 575 C2. According to the teaching given there, the partial webs are butted together. The partial webs lie against one another with their abutting edge and are fastened to one another by one or two connecting bands which cover the abutting joint. The strips for connecting the strips are significantly thinner than the textile strips from which the awning strip is made. The thickening remains in a tolerable frame that prevents creasing.

There are no large transverse forces at the joints. The connecting band that holds the joint between two sub-bands need only have a low mechanical strength. Very thin connecting tapes can be used, which apply only little. This means that when the awning winds up on the winding shaft of the awning, material remains small and there are no folds in the bale.

With this type of connection, the light transmission of the connecting tape is unfavorable. The thin connecting band generally allows significantly more light to pass through than the awning panels themselves. On the other hand, the butt joint between the two awning tracks cannot be completely closed due to manufacturing tolerances. be closed. The butt joint shows sections in which the two abutting edges of the awning track are at a distance from one another that allows a clear passage of light. Seen from the underside of the awning, the viewer has the impression that the awning sheeting has been torn lengthways at this point.

Proceeding from this, it is an object of the invention to provide a cloth or film web, in particular for shading devices or advertising media, which does not lead to a thickening of material at the connection point between the partial webs and which also creates a light gap between the partial webs under unfavorable tolerance conditions.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the cloth or film web with the features of claim 1.

In the new fabric or film web, the two sub-webs lie side by side, ie they do not overlap. The joint is covered on at least one side of the two partial webs by a connecting or bridging band, by means of which the joint locations of the partial webs are held next to one another. In the area of the joint or joint there is a strip that is less translucent than the connecting band otherwise. The strip is arranged in such a way that it covers any gap that may arise between the joint edges. On the other hand, the strip is significantly narrower than the connecting band. On the visible side, only a relatively narrow dark stripe can be seen in transmitted light in the area of the joint or connection point. In places where the joint would otherwise have a clearly visible, brightly lit gap would be known, runs the stripe, which due to its dark color prevents the otherwise occurring impression of a crack in the awning track.

The strip can be created in two different ways.

The strip can either be attached to the connecting tape beforehand or it can be produced subsequently, for example during the application of the strip or shortly thereafter by inking or printing. The first-mentioned possibility places lower demands on the mechanical equipment in the processing company. It is sufficient if the tape prepared accordingly is applied to the partial webs.

In the other case, the mechanical equipment is more extensive, because in addition to the application and fixing of the connecting strip on the partial webs, it is also necessary to apply the paint. The latter method has the main advantage that the color can be chosen largely freely.

The visual impression can be further improved if the strip has gradual edges so that an abrupt transition is avoided.

In any case, it is expedient if the color of the stripe is matched to the surrounding color of the two partial webs. This is especially true for applications where the viewing distance is small. For large viewing distances, it is sufficient if the stripe is made of a so-called achromatic color with a corresponding degree of coverage consists.

The connecting or bridging band can be a textile band or a film band. Tissue or nonwoven tapes are suitable as the textile tape, the latter if there are enough fibers in the fleece running transversely to the abutting edges.

The connecting or bridging band can be integrally connected to the sub-bands by gluing or welding. The thermally fusible material required for gluing or welding can be part of the connecting or bridging band, but can also be formed from material that is present in the textile webs. The latter applies in particular to the case of plastic fibers which, if properly selected, can develop sufficient adhesive strength in the soft state.

For the rest, further developments of the invention compared to subclaims. In this case, combinations of features should also be regarded as the claim, to which no express exemplary embodiment is directed.

Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are shown in the drawing. Show it:

1 is an awning in a highly schematic perspective view,

2 shows a section of the awning track of the awning according to FIG. 1, illustrating the joint between the partial tracks, on an enlarged scale, Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the awning track in which the strip is subsequently applied to the connecting band and

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment similar to the embodiment of Figure 3, wherein the strip is subsequently applied to the underside.

Fig. 1 shows an articulated arm awning 1 with a housing 2, which is attached via wall bracket 3 to a building facade, not shown. An unrecognizable winding shaft is rotatably mounted in the housing 2, to which an awning track 4 is attached with one edge. The awning track 4 runs out of the housing 2 via a cloth slot 5. Its edge remote from the winding shaft is attached to a drop rail 6. The drop rail 6 is supported in a known manner by two articulated arms 7, which are indicated by dashed lines in the figure. The articulated arms 6 are hinged to the wall brackets 3 below the housing 2.

The awning track 4 is composed of two partial tracks 8 and 9. The two partial webs 8 and 9 are connected to one another at a joint or joint 11 which runs straight over the entire length of the awning web 4.

The structure of the joint 11 is illustrated in an enlarged manner in FIG. 2.

The two partial webs 8 and 9 each consist of a woven awning fabric, which is optionally provided with a colored print. Each of the two partial webs 8 and 9 ends at a butt edge 12 and 13. The butt edges 12 and 13 are straight edges. During the manufacturing process strived to ensure that the two abutting edges 12 and 13 are as close together as possible and that there is no gap between them. For the purpose of illustrating the invention only, the two abutting edges 12 and 13 are shown clearly spaced apart.

It is important that the partial webs 8 and 9 lie in the area of their abutting edges 12 and 13 in a common plane and do not overlap one another. This avoids a thickening of material in the area of the joint 11 corresponding to the material thickness of one of the two partial webs 8 and 9.

The two abutting edges 12 and 13, which can be cut or woven edges, are held together by a connecting band 14. The connecting band 14, as indicated at 15, in turn consists of a fabric, so that sufficient threads run transversely to the abutting edges 12 and 13.

The connecting band 14 is delimited by two mutually parallel edges 16 and 17. The width of the connecting band 14 is selected such that it forms a sufficiently wide strip-shaped surface area on each partial web 8 and 9, in which it is to be connected to the relevant partial web 8 or 9.

The connecting band 14 is a gauze-like airy fabric that has a significantly smaller number of warp and weft threads than the material from which the two partial webs 8 and 9 are made. In addition, the thread size is much less. As a result, the joint 11 does not experience any significant worth thickening.

Because of its structure, the connecting band 14 is more translucent than the partial webs 8 and 9. Without countermeasures, a gap between the two abutting edges 12 and 13 would look like a crack in the awning web 4 in transmitted light. In order to avoid this impression, the connecting band 14 is provided with a strip 18 which is dark in terms of light transmission.

The strip 18 runs in the longitudinal direction of the connecting band 14. Its width is less than the width of the connecting band 14 itself, as can be seen in FIG. 2. In addition to the dark stripe 18, two symmetrical stripes 19 and 21 are formed which have a high degree of transparency or light transmission. The width of the opaque or less translucent strip 18 is selected so that a gap between the abutting edges 12 and 13 that arises and is unavoidable due to the production is covered with certainty, even if the connecting band 14 is not applied exactly.

In this case, not exact should be understood to mean transverse deviations of the connecting band 14 with respect to the course of the two abutting edges 12 and 13, in other words if the strip 18 meanders with respect to the abutting edges 12, 13.

The dark or less translucent strip 18 can be produced by printing on the connecting tape 14. The printing is expediently applied during the production of the connecting tape 14. Another possibility of producing the dark stripe 18 is to use dark warp threads, as a result of which the desired lower light transmission is achieved. Finally, it is possible to increase the number of warp threads in the area of the strip 18 compared to the two strips 19 and 21 running next to it.

For optical reasons it can be advantageous if the strip 18 has running edges. Such an optical impression can be achieved if the edges of the strip 18 gradually dissolve into individual small areas which become smaller in diameter with increasing distance from the center of the strip 18 and ultimately disappear completely.

Since the outside of the awning becomes visible on the winding shaft when the awning is being wound up, it is advantageous if the basic color of the connecting strip 14 approximately matches the color of the partial webs 8 and 9 in the region of the joint 11. This color match is not necessary for the extended position because the color of the connecting strip 14 through the partial webs 8 and 9 is not recognizable.

For this reason, a simple white stripe would suffice. If this is perceived as annoying when the connecting strip 14 is visible on the outside of the bale, the basic coloring mentioned above can be used. It is also advantageous here if the dark stripe 18 is also adapted accordingly in the basic color. The connecting strip 14 can be connected to the partial webs 8 and 9 by welding or gluing. The material for the welding or gluing point can be formed from material that is already present on the connecting strip 14 on the relevant side. The adhesive material can be applied in the form of a thin hotmelt adhesive layer or the connecting strip 14 can contain weft and / or warp threads which soften by the application of heat and become adhesive in order to produce the cohesive connection between the relevant partial webs 8 and 9 and the connecting strip 14 after cooling.

Instead of using a connecting strip 14 made of fabric, a connecting strip 14 made of a nonwoven fabric or a film can also be used. If a non-woven fabric is used, it is only necessary to ensure that a sufficient proportion of the fibers in the non-woven fabric bridges the joint between the two abutting edges 12 and 13 to a sufficient length.

The exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2 provides for the use of a connecting strip 14 which is already provided with the dark or less translucent strip 18 by the manufacturer and thus before it is attached to the partial webs 8 and 9.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment which is similar to the embodiment according to FIG. 2. Insofar as parts are shown that are already found in FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are used for this, without a new description being given.

The main difference between the execution 2 and the embodiment according to FIG. 3 consists in the use of a plain-colored connecting strip 14. The connecting strip 14 consists for example of a white fabric, expediently also with closed fabric edges corresponding to the tape edges 16 and 17.

Similar to the manufacture of the awning sheet 4 according to FIG. 2, after the two partial sheets 8 and 9 have been placed against one another, the connecting band 14 is continuously placed along the abutting edges 12 and 13 and is integrally connected to the two partial sheets 8 and 9 by welding or gluing. Following the application of the connecting tape 14 to the two partial webs 8 and 9, the awning web 4 passes through a station 22 in which a color strip 23 is applied. The ink application station 22 is shown in a highly schematic manner in FIG. 3. It consists, for example, of a spray nozzle from which a paint suitable for coloring the connecting tape 14 is sprayed. The paint is applied with a spray cone 24 to the back of the connecting band 14 of the colored strips 23, which corresponds in terms of its dimensions to the strip 18 according to FIG. 2. The color of the strip 23 can be selected from an aesthetic point of view. In the simplest case, it is a black color.

A suitable device for applying the strip 24 is, for example, a printhead as used in an inkjet printer.

FIG. 4 finally shows an embodiment which corresponds to the embodiment according to FIG. 3. Here, too, a plain-colored connecting strip 14 is placed on the joint 11 of the abutting edges 12 and 13 applied cohesively. 3, the color application does not take place on the side of the connecting band 14 on the outside thereof, but the color application takes place from the visible side of the two partial webs 8, 9, ie the color application takes place on that side of the two partial webs 8 and 9 , on which the connecting strip 14 is not applied.

Here too, the color strip has a width which is selected such that it surely covers a gap which arises between the two abutting edges 12 and 13 under all production-related circumstances. In this case, the material for the partial webs 8 and 9 is not dyed in the gap area, but the color penetrates through the gap to the side of the connecting band 14 which is exposed there.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, it is particularly easy to adapt the color of the applied strip 23 to the color of the partial webs 8 and 9 which abut one another. As a result, the applied strip 23 will not be particularly visible neither in incident light nor in transmitted light.

Since the strip 18 or 23 is chosen to be very narrow, and only so narrow that it covers a technically unavoidable gap under all circumstances, its width is very small. The strip 18 or 23 is significantly narrower than the connecting band 14 itself. As a result, little is noticeable visually.

An awning was explained as an application example for the present invention. However, for the expert it is clear that the present invention is not restricted to this application. Another application is advertising media that are freely spanned and, for example, are printed with the advertisement or otherwise carry an advertisement. Again, no crack-like bright spots may appear in the image or text of the advertisement.

An awning track is made up of at least two partial tracks. The two partial webs are butted against each other at the joint. In order to hold the joint together, a connecting band is provided that bridges the joint and that is cohesively connected to each of the two partial webs in a corresponding width strip.

In order to prevent light from shining through between the abutting edges, where the abutting edges form a gap, a strip is provided which is less translucent than the connecting band otherwise.

Claims

Claims:

1. cloth or film web (4), in particular for shading devices (1) or advertising media, with a first partial web (8,9), which has a straight abutting edge (12,13), with at least one second partial web (8,9) , which has at least one straight butt edge (12, 13), which runs alongside the butt edge (12, 13) of the first partial web (8, 9), with at least one connecting band (14) which bridges the butt with both partial webs ( 8,9) is integrally connected, and with a strip (18, 23) which extends in the longitudinal direction of the connecting band (14) and covers the joint, which is narrower than the connecting band (14) and which is less translucent than the connecting band ( 14) in the areas next to the strip (18, 23).

2. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting band (14) is color coordinated with the two partial webs (8, 9).

3. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting band (14) is more translucent compared to the light transmission of the partial webs (8,9).

4. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized in that the strip (18,23) with low light transmittance has a light transmittance that is equal to or less than the light transmittance of at least one of the two partial webs (8,9).

5. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized in that the color of the strip (18, 23) corresponds to the color of at least one of the two partial webs (8, 9).

6. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized in that the strip (18) is formed by printing or coloring, which is located on the connecting tape (14).

7. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized in that the strip (18) is woven.

8. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting tape (14) seen across the width is monochrome and that the strip (23) is formed by printing or coloring, which is applied after the attachment of the connecting tape (14) is.

9. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting band (14) is a textile band.

10. cloth or film web according to claim 9, characterized in that the textile material is a fabric or a nonwoven.

11. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting band (14) consists of a plastic film.

12. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized characterized in that the connecting band (14) - is glued to the partial webs (8,9).

13. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting band (14) with the partial webs (8,9) is welded.

14. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized in that the welding material is part of the connecting band (14).

15. cloth or film web according to claim 1, characterized in that the welding material is part of the partial webs (8,9).